מוּר (mur)
mur
to change
H:VQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 8 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:V
Word Overview
The Hebrew verb mur means to change or exchange something for another. It appears eight times in the Old Testament, with notable occurrences in Leviticus and Jeremiah. In these texts, it often describes a shift in condition or status rather than a simple alteration of opinion.
In Leviticus 27:10, mur is used to describe the exchange of an animal dedicated to the Lord. The text states that neither the good nor the bad may be exchanged, emphasizing that once something is consecrated, its status cannot be swapped for another item. This usage highlights a legal and ritual finality.
In Jeremiah 13:23, the word appears in a rhetorical question about whether an Ethiopian can change his skin or a leopard its spots. Here, mur underscores the difficulty of altering one’s inherent nature or deep-seated habits without divine intervention. The verb thus carries weight regarding both ritual law and human character.
The root conveys a tangible shift, whether in property, status, or physical appearance. Translators typically render it as "change" or "exchange," capturing the sense of substitution or transformation. Its limited usage allows each instance to carry specific contextual significance, often marking points where something fixed is either legally transferred or inherently resistant to alteration.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word mur describes a shift in condition or status, often carrying a sense of finality. In Leviticus, it marks the point where a dedicated offering cannot be swapped for another, showing that some commitments are set apart and unchangeable. This reminds us that our promises to God carry weight and permanence.
Yet the word also appears in Jeremiah, highlighting how people can shift their loyalty from what is truly valuable to what offers no real profit. It serves as a sobering reminder to examine where we place our trust. We are invited to consider if our hearts remain fixed on what endures, rather than drifting toward temporary distractions.
This term invites reflection on the stability of our faith. While circumstances may shift, the call to remain faithful stands firm. May we find peace in knowing that what is consecrated to God remains secure, even when the world around us changes.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 8 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- he will exchange/ it2×
- he will exchange2×
- ever <to exchange>2×
- it has exchanged1×
- it has been changed1×
- he exchanges1×
- he changes1×
- and/ they exchanged1×
- I will exchange1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- נָמָֽר\׃\ \ס1×
- יָמִֽר\׃1×
- יָמִ֥יר1×
- יָמִ֤יר1×
- יָמִ֑יר1×
- יְמִירֶ֔/נּוּ1×
- יְמִירֶ֑/נּוּ1×
- וַ/יָּמִ֥ירוּ1×
- הָמֵ֨ר1×
- הָמֵ֣ר1×
- הֵמִ֥יר1×
- אָמִֽיר\׃1×
Key Verses
-
Leviticus 27:10
He shall not alter it, nor exchange it, a good for a bad, or a bad for a good. If he shall at all exchange animal for animal, then both it and that for which it is exchanged shall be holy.
This verse establishes the legal finality of a vow, showing that once an item is dedicated, it cannot be exchanged for another.
-
Jeremiah 2:11
Has a nation changed its gods, which really are no gods? But my people have changed their glory for that which doesn’t profit.
Here the word contrasts the futility of idols with the loss of true glory, emphasizing how people can shift their devotion away from God.
-
Psalms 15:4
in whose eyes a vile man is despised, but who honors those who fear Yahweh; he who keeps an oath even when it hurts, and doesn’t change;
The psalmist describes a person of integrity who remains steadfast in their commitments even when it causes personal hardship.